2nd cruise with NCL, we booked 9/28/2015...less than a month before departure. We utilized the friendly and kind cruises connection of cruise critic to get 5 tours booked with cc members and those on board to help us with costly tours and we were most grateful plus enjoyed the met and greet and other activities and was always good to bump into others on board.
We stayed in Venice Mestre Marghera, a trip advisor recommended hotel, Antica Villa Graziella, offering nice breakfast, clean comfortable, good and sweet helpful staff, very nice economy selection. Located with ample parking, nearby grocery, and restaurants, walkable and safe. Used public transportation to get to hotel from airport, arriving in daylight, with a local taxi in Marghera to make the final steps from metro to hotel, and next day used public transport tram with our luggage (tickets purchased at hotel), to get to Venice island and easily located people mover at the port, to check in NCL. Then rather than board, we used that day to explore the canals of Venice and wind our way to Saint Marks Basilica, taking 7.50 euro pp water taxi back from there to the area of cruise terminal and people mover to board the ship about 500pm. All transactions in Venice were by credit card with no foreign transaction fees.
Only second cruise ever and sons first we found nothing to complain about. I was shocked as I had read so many of the reviews here on CC and did NOT experience any of the things sited in earlier reviews. Though honestly my glass is over flowing with praise to NCL, using a CruiseNext voucher for this cruise and purchasing CruiseNext reservation for future cruises with NCL, NCL is a value play, quiet cabins, good service, clean, well maintained, and honestly I felt, slightly better chef and food service than the NCL Star and that is saying something!
also son had 10591; we were both very happy to have our own space and loved our supportive attendants and excellent service when needed. were not much in the room as we early up and out and early to bed; some tv and plenty of movies available in subtitles. plus news and ship info. large clean shower and bath. with so many ports not too much room time